RUCKMAN Max Bailey’s pre-season is already underway, joining training a week before the Club’s official pre-season begins on Monday.

After playing 16 games in 2011, Bailey could manage only two matches in 2012 as a wrist injury on the eve of Round 1 had him sidelined for the first half of the season.

He returned to the Hawthorn side in Round 18, but by then, the Hawks had a settled ruck department consisting of David Hale and Jarryd Roughead that proved to be the preferred partnership heading into finals.

It meant Bailey was forced to ply his trade at VFL level, with the Club’s affiliate, Box Hill.

Head of Coaching and Development, Chris Fagan says the Club is committed to finding a spot for the ruckman in its best 22 next season, however, and his form so far this pre-season gives the Club confidence.

“What we're very pleased with is that he'll be able to do a pre-season right from the word go, which is exciting for Max given his history over the last six or seven years,” he said.

“He's training already, and looking very fit.”

Fagan believes a fit and firing Bailey would add another dimension to Alastair Clarkson’s side, given he is an athletic ruckman with a great footy brain.

“We think he's a bloke that could bring another dimension to us if he can get up and going,” he said.

“He's got skills, he's tall, he can get around the oval, he's a good team man, and he understands the game.”

There is work to do, however, for the 26 year old given the ruck position is the most affected by the league’s substitute rules.

“The ability to do something else as well as ruck is really important,” Fagan said.

“For most of them, that's being able to go forward and take a mark.

“He's definitely got to work on that. That's the next part for him, and he's well and truly aware of that.”